Improvement in fire-proof construction for vaults



2Sheets--Sheet1. C. H. SGHNELLE.

Fire-Proof Construction f Vaults.

(40.147435. rim Patented Feb.10,1a74.

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Patented Feb. 0,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Erre.

CHARLES H. SCHNELLE, OF S'I. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR VAULTS.

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 147,435, dated February10, 1874; application filed i November 29, 1871.

To all whom fit may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. SCHNELLE, of the city and county of St.Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain Improvement inFire-Proof Construction for Vaults, Src., of which the following` is aspecification:

My invention consists in a mode of constructing safes and vaults in sucha manner as substantially to protect them from taking lire trom without;and it relates to that mode of construction in which an air-chamber ismade between the walls. It consists, chieily, in so constructing andarranging the walls and airchambers that heating any part of the wallswill cause a current of cold air to pass through the adjoining chamberso long as the heat continues. This current of air will keep the innerwalls at a temperature far below the point of combustion. I take care tobuild the walls as much as possible out of contact with each other, savesuch contact as is necessary to preserve their relations andgiverequisite strength and support. I endeavor to secure a freecirculation of air throughout every part of the space between the walls.The first part of my invention consists in a provision for securing thiscirculation of air. To do this, I make an orifice near the bottom of theinner wall and near the top of the outer wall (where but two walls andone chamber are made.) As the outer wall becomes heated, the air of thechamber becomes rareiied, rises, and passes out through the orice at thetop of the said wall, and at the same time the cool air from the insideof the chamber will pass through the oriiice in the bottom of the innerwall, to supply the place of that which has thus risen and passed off.The second part of my invention consists in the means adopted forintroducing cool air into the inside ofthe safe or vault from theoutside. This is done by means of a common pipe or box opening at anypoint outside and leading into the interior of the safe or vault. Thispipe must be protected, and conducted according to the location of theplace to be protected; but in all cases care must be taken that there beno impediment to the pas sage of the air in sufficient volume.

I have illustrated and explained my invention by a drawing of a safeconstructed according to my plan. In the safe one side of the front ismade with two, and one with one, airchamber. l

Figure l is a view of the safe with the doors closed. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sect-ion in the line w a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection, showing the inside of the front part with the doors closed.Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line .c a2, Fig. 2, with the doorsclosed, showing the inside of the right-hand section.

C is a pipe or tube leading from the outside and entering the bottom ofthe safe, to supply a current of cold air to the air-chambers as it isneeded. Said pipe must be of dimensions proportioned to the capacitiesof said chambers. It may be opened to the outer air at any convenientplace; but the outer opening should be so placed that hot air will notenter the safe or room in case of coniiagration. If the safe or room tobe protected is large, I then conduct the outdoor air tothe top of theinside, so as to keep the whole surface of the inner wall cool. D is theescape-pipe, passing through the top ofthe safe, on the outside, intothe airchambers between the walls. This must be extended or in some wayconnected with the outer air, so as to allow free passage for thecurrent of air from the inside ofthe chambers. If my plan is adopted inthe construction of a house or otherlarger building, provision should bemade for the escape of the heated air from the chambers at the top ofthe walls, either by having the chambers open there, or providingsuitable orifices. E E E are the outer, middle, and inner walls of thesafe, inclosing the air-chambers F F'. These chambers should occupy asmuch of the area of the walls as possible consistent with strength, andshould be of a depth proportionate to the area and height of the walls,it being necessary to provide for the passage of a volume of air toogreat to be heated on its passage upward. g g are orifices through thelower part of the inner walls of the safe, through which the air passesfrom the safe into the chambers F F. h h are ainpassages in the upperpart of the said inner wall, which I recommenduwh en three walls arebuilt, in the place of the air-passages g g at the bottom of said wall.the wall is large, and especially where it is high, and there are threewalls, I iin d it best to make orifices all over the inner wall, and

In cases where the area of thus establish a circulating current allthrough the inner ehainber.

Then the outer Walls of the safe beeonie heated, the air in the Chamberbeneath becomes rareiied, and rises and passes out through the pipe D;the eool air from the inside passes into the chamber at the bottoni, tosupply the place; and the air from outdoors rushes into the Chaniher orsafe through the pipe C, or other passage, to supply the partial vaeuuinthus ereated. A ein-rent of outdoor air is thus established in theair-chamber, Whioh Will continue as long as the heat lasts and thesupply is uninterrupted, and will increase as the heat increases inveloeity and volume. rlhis current of air will keep the temperaturebelow the point of combustion. Then large struetures are made upon thisplan, I admit the air into the airchambers from the cellar by properopenings; but, as the main purpose is to insure a free oireulationthrough the air-chambers, any means may be used to accomplish it,provided the supply of oool air is admitted to or passes up from nearthe bottom of the outer ehainber, and escapes at or near the top.

I elaiin as my invention- 1. The combination of air-chambers between theWalls of buildings or vaults with an airtube extending from the interiorto the external air, and one or more orifices near the bottoin of theinner Wall opening from said interior into said air-chamber, and one ormore orifices in the outer Wall opening near the top of said chamber andconnected with the outer air.

2. The combination of inlet-pipe C and exitpipe D with one or moreair-chambers, F, and

orifices for the passage of air, arranged to operate substantially asset forth.

CHA S. H. SCHNELLE.

Witnesses:

WM. AsPrNWALL, WILLIAM STANDISH.

